Multiple lead pencil



Nov. 8, 1938. H. REUSCH MULTIPLE LEAD PENCIL Filed April 2, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 8, 1938. H. REUSCH MULTIPLE LEAD PENCIL Filed April 2, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hy 6- FEyY Fiyy. F740.

Nov. 8,1938.

H. REUSCH MULTIPLE LEAD PENCIL s Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 2, 1957 llllllllfl. :Illlllll!!! Patented Nov. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MULTIPIELEAD rnncn. Hans Beusch, Florsheim Germany Applicatilclrnipril 2, 193-1, SerialNo. 134,009

ermany 14 Claims.

This invention relates to multiple-lead pencils, the lead carriers of which can be pushed forward singly from the inoperative position into the writing position by means of push-knobs projecting from slots in the pencil case, and secured in this writing position by engaging the corresponding knob into a bayonet slot, the lead carrier being at the same time under the action of coordinated pull springs which, when the knob is disengaged from the bayonet slot, return the corresponding lead carrier into the inoperative position The multiple-lead pencils of known type possess the inconvenience that the slots in the case are not closed on their whole length in any position of the lead carriers nor during the pushing forward of the same.

Another inconvenience consists in that it is difflcult to bring the push-knobs into the slots in the case when the pencil is being put together. The fixingof the push-knobs on the lead carriers.- after the so-called pencil mechanism has been inserted into the case, by screwing said knobs into the shiftable lead carriers or into the shaft of the same, has not stood the test, as the screwed-in push knobs get loose and drop out.

This inconvenience has been obviated by fixing by soldering or by riveting the push-knobs on the shiftable parts prior to the insertion of the pencil mechanism. But it was then necessary, to endepressed during the' insertion of the mechanism. could be transferred in outward direction into the slots. To cover such slit-enlargements it was ture increased.

The novelty consists in that every return spring, the rear end of which is fixed on the case and the front end on the lead carrien'i's mounted in a hollow lead carrier shaft, shiftably guided behind the slot in the case and covering this slot in any position. 4

The novelty consists further in the arrangement of an indentation, recess or.the like on the side of the lead carrier shaft facing theslot in the case, this indentation or recess being designed to loosely accommodate the inner end of the push-knob and itis of such dimension that the push-knob can carry out the shifting movement transverselyto the longitudinal axis of the shaft, necessary for its movement into the bayonet slot without the shaft itself participating in this movement.

large the slots so that the push-knobs at first then necessary to push separate sleeve pieces on' to the case whereby this case is thickened, its appearance impaired, and the cost of manufac- This novelty consists further in the shaping of April 18, 1936 the inner end of the push knob, so that it can be pushed under the upwardly bent corner, tongue or the like formed at the front end of the bayonet slot by the arrangement of a bayonet slot and so that it can be retained in the slot after the corner, 5 tongue or the like has been bent down again- Other new and advantageous features will be hereinafter explained. v

Three embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way. of example, by the seventeen flg- 10 v ures of the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows a multiple lead pencil in elevation. Fig. 2 is a similar view as Fig. 1, the case being shown in section.

Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal section through the 15 centre of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a cross section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 shows a multiple lead pencil in, modified form of construction in longitudinal section.

Fig. 6 shows in elevation a mine carrier with 20 shaft.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is an end view of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 shows in elevation, Fig. 10 in longitudinal section and Fig. 11 in end view a shaft and a lead carrier connected by a blade spring. 7 v Fig. 12 shows in elevation a multiple-lead pencil in a third form of construction.

Fig. 13 is a cros section on Fig. 12.

Figs. 14 and 15 show side elevations in longitudinal section on lines I|l4 and li-Ii'of Fig.

13. Fig. 16 shows lS-lt of Fig. 13. Fig. 17' shows in top plan view on enlarged scale the rear open end of. the case.

In the case as cross-shaped guide I is mounted as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 and fixed on the 40 bottom of a cap c. This cap 0 is connected with the case a by a transverse pin d. The end of pin d projects from the case a to under the pocket clip e so that the pin 41, after the clip e has been removed can be easily pulled out of the case a. by means of tongs. The so-called pencil mechanism is thereby liberated and can be pulled out of case a through the open rear end of the same. The mechanism consists,- besides the cross shaped guide 11, of shafts f, of lead carriers located in the 60 cross guide 12, of the lead carriers 0 themselves, "and of return springs h connected at the rear end to cap c and at the front end to the lead carrier 0, or tothe shaft 1 of the same, or on rodsi line l3-II of 30 a longitudinal section on line 35 which connect lead carrier 0 and shaft 1'. The a cap c is preferably perforated and the rear ends of the return springs, after having been threaded through the holes in the cap body are twisted together, whereas the front ends of the springs extend up to the short rods i of the lead carriers 17, the springs being wound around this rod. The

shafts serve throughout their whole length as holders for the return springs h acting as pullsprings. Each shaft f is at least twice as long as the slot and has at the middle an aperture !1 in which loosely engages the inner end In of the corresponding push knob k. This push knob k comprises a visible part, that is the end projecting from the case and on which pressure is exerted with a finger for the purpose of shifting the lead carrier shafts 1, an inner thickened .end In which is of such size that, when the tongue a; formed by an arrangement of the bayonet slots a: is bent upwards, it can be introduced into the slot a, and when the tongue a; is bent down it cannot drop out of the longitudinal slot 41 in the case a but can shift transversely in the aperture f1 in the shaft 1 in which it engages to engage in the corresponding bayonet slot in the case. Finally the knob comprises a neck connecting the two ends and extending through the slot 11, in which it slides during the shifting of the shafts f. In the shape above described and as shown in the drawings the appearance of the knobs it, his in appearance similar to the well known collar stud. The case a has as many longitudinal slots a1 as there are lead carriers 0, each slot ending at the front end in a bayonet 'slot a, into which the neck of the push knob k has to be pushed after a short lateral movement after the corresponding lead carrier 9 has been pushed forward, so that the lead carrier g is securely held in the writing position.

The multiple lead pencil is put together in that first the mechanism is inserted without the push knobs k, In into the case a which is still open at the rear end. The mechanism is then secured in this position by the insertion of pin d and the push-knobs k1 are then inserted. With 'thisobject in view the corners'or tongues as formed by the arrangement of the bayonet slots a: are slightly lifted (Fig; 2) until the inner end In of the corresponding push-knob can be inserted into the corresponding slot 01; by depressing the tongue a: the knob is retained in the slot a1.

During the introducing of the inner end krof a push-knob the corresponding shaft f must be pushed forward so that its aperture i1 is behind the front end of slot a1. After the introducing and fixing of the mechanism and of the pushknobs the rear end of case a is closed in known manner by the insertion of the lead carrier magazine r.

As the shafts f and also their guide b can not .carry out any rotation in the case a, the aperture or indentation fl is dimensioned so that the movement of knob is during the insertion into the bayonet slot as is not impeded.

In the second form of construction, the return spring m is only half as long as in the first form of construction. It extends up to the indentation or aperture or recess )1 which, in this instance is partly closed by a small block n being introduced into the bore of shaft f. The lead car- .rlers p are suspended by means of a perforated sheet metal plate 0, on the bolt 1: arranged at the front end of the shafts f and extending at right angles tothe longitudinal axis of case a. Every lead carrier 9 may carry out on this bolt 9 a -pendulating and shifting, movement, 80" that it adjusts itself as centrally as possible to the case a when being pushed forward through the open point at.

The can q. on which the cross shaped guide b and the rear end of the return-springs n are fixed, forms in the second form of construction with its forwardly directed rim q, the abutment for the shafts I, so that these, in opposition to the first form of construction, when being pulled back by' the springs m can not strike on the bottom of cap q. The rear ends of the return springs .f are thereby less stressed.

According to Figs. 9 and 11, shaft f and a lead carrier 0 are connected the one with the other by a blade spring r in a particularly simple and cheap manner.. The rear end of the blade spring ris pushed into shaft 1 to such a distance that it shuts off the aperture f1. Its front end forms a resilient element, on which the lead carrier 0 is suspended.

The cross-shaped guide b may also be employed for pencils with two or three leads. In this instance only two or three shafts l with lead carriers g are inserted in the guide b and the case a has only three slots (11.

In the third form of construction the case has a cross section in the shape of a flattened rhombus and therefore comprises two pairs of walls each pair forming an acute angle and a cutting edge as, so that the case a can be employed as letter opener, paper knife or the like. A cap cr is inserted into case a from the rear end and detachably fixed in this case by means of a pin or of a bolt screw d1 (Fig; 14). Through cap or extends a flattened tube or which is open at the rear end so that spare leads in can be inserted and removed, this tube being closed at the front end by a plate so that the shafts j which are guided between the two walls forming a cutting blade as of case a can not come into touch. The two lead carriers a proper are connected with the shafts f by means of blade springs r1. shaft 1 has, approximately at the middle of its length, an aperture f1 adapted to loosely accommodate the inner end In of a push knob is. The two knobs k are preferably arranged not at the same side of the long diagonal of the rhomb cross section, but on different sides of this diagonal (Fig. 1a).

Hereby is obtained that the thumb effecting the pushing forward of knob k can actually come into contact only with one knob k. The rear end of the return spring mils hung through a lateral slot 0 in cap c1 from the side into this cap so that the return spring can be removed again and it has a thickening it which, after the insertion of the rear endvof the return spring on is located in cap of (Figs. 16 and 17).

The rear end of case a is closed by a lid s which I springs each extending into and connected at the.

front end with one of said hollow shafts and at tached at its other end to the rear end of said case, and knobs slidable one in each of the longitudinal slots in the-case, each knob having a Each hold the knob and its carrierin writing position.

2. A multiple lead pencil as specified in claim 1, comprising in combination with the shafts the lead carriers and the return springs, short rods connecting each shaft and its lead carrier, the front end of the return spring being wound around and attached'to said rod.

3. In a multiple lead pencil as specified in claim 1, a tongue formed by the corner between each longitudinal slot and its bayonet slot, the lead carriers, hollow shafts of saidlead carriers, and push knobs inserted one in each hollow shaft, the inner end of each push knob being so thick that it can just pass through the widening of the case slot formed by lifting said tongue and then be securely held in its position by the lowered tongue.

4. A multiple lead pencil as specified in claim 1, comprising in combination with each lead carrier and its shaft, a flexible wire connecting said carrier and said shaft.

5. A multiple lead pencil as specified in claim 1, comprising in combination with the case, the lead carriers and the hollow shafts, a pin in the front end of each hollow shaftextending at right angles to the central axis of the case, and means for oscillately and shiftably suspending the corresponding lead carrier on said pin. 6. In a multiple lead pencil as specified in claim 1, a cap on the rear end of said case, a forwardly directed rim of said cap adapted to serve as abutment for said hollow shafts.

'7. A multiple lead pencil as specified in claim 1, comprising in combination with the case, the hollow shafts having each one an aperture, the push knobs in said shafts and the lead carriers, blade springs connecting said lead carriers with said hollow shafts and extending into said shafts to cover from below said apertures.

8. A multiple lead pencil as specified in claim 1, in which the case is of rhomboidal cross section every pair of walls enclosing an acute angle and forming on the outer side a cutting edge mpted to serve as letter opener and as paper 9. A multiple lead pencil as specified in claim 1, in which the case is of rhomboidal cross section each pair of case walls enclosing an acute angle forming on the outer side a cutting edge and accommodating one shaft and one lead carrier with return spring, and a partition in said case separating said side portions.

10. A multiple lead pencil as specified in claim 1, in which the case is of rhomboidal cross seotion each pair of case walls enclosing an acute angle forming on the outer side a cutting edge and accommodating one shaft and one lead carrier with return spring, and a flattened tube as partition in said case and serving as magazine for spare leads.

11. A multiple lead pencil as specified in claim 1, in which the case is of rhomboidal cross section, and each pair of walls enclosing an acute angle and forming on the outer side a cutting edge serving as paper knife and as letter opener,

a cap inserted on the rear end of said case, said cap having a perforated top plate, and a partition in the form of a flattened tube extending from the top plate of said cap adapted to serve as magazine for spare leads, the rear ends of the return springs for the lead carriers extending through the holes of the top plate of said cap and carrying each a thick body.

12. A multiple lead pencil as specified in claim 1, in which the case is of rhomboidal cross section, and each pair of walls encloses an acute angle and forms on the outer side a cutting edge serving as paper knife and as letter opener, a cap inserted on the rear end of said case, said cap having slots in the sides and a partition in the form of a flattened tube extending from the top plate of said cap adapted to serve as magazine for spare leads, the rear end of the return springs for the lead carriers extending through the slots of the top plate of said cap and carrying each a thick body.

13. A multiple lead pencil as specified in claim 1, in which the case, containing the hollow shafts each with a push knob, the lead carriers and the return springs for the same, is of rhomboidal cross sectionand consists of two pairs of walls,

the walls of each pair standing at an acute angle the one to the other and' forming. at the outer side a cutting edge serving as paper knife or letter opener, each pair of walls forming a compartment for a lead carrier, the hollow shaft of said carrier and a return spring for the same and a push knob on each shaft. each pair of case walls having a longitudinal slot engaging into a bayonet slot, said slot formed in the one pair in the front wall and in the other pair in the rear wall. I

14. A multiple lead pencil as specified in claim 1 in which each shaft is at least twice as long as its slot, and each knob is connected to the middle point of its shaft.

HANS REUSCH. 

